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Monday, February 8, 2010

The Japanese Sandman

By Richard A. Whiting & Raymond B. Egan1919

Did you know that this song single-handedly kicked off the modern phenomenon of popular music recording? It's true, and I only discovered it after researching the song, which I recently came across in the new Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Apparently, prior to Paul Whiteman's introduction of the tune, basically only classical music and some local folk material was deemed worthy of recording for posterity. But this pop song became the first platinum record, and in so doing ushered in the notion that there was a viable market for recorded performances of pop songs. Prior to that, the main market for pop was in the sale of sheet music.

Lyrics:

Won't you stretch imagination for the moment and come with meLet us hasten to a nation lying over the western seaHide behind the cherry blossoms here's a sight that will please your eyesThere's a baby with a lady of Japan singing lullabiesNight winds breath her sighs here's the Japanese

Just as silent as we came we'll leave the land of the painted fanWander lightly or you'll wake the little people of old JapanMay repose and pleasant dreaming be their share while the hours are smallLike an echo of the song I hear the Japanese Sandmancall new days near for all here's the Japanese

Sandman sneaking on with the dew just an old second hand manHe'll buy your old day from youhe will take every sorrow of the day that is throughand he'll give you tomorrow just to start a life anewthen you'll be a bit older in the dawn when you wakeand you'll be a bit bolder with the new day you makehere's the Japanese Sandman trade him silver for goldjust an old second hand man trading new days for old.

3 comments:

Apparently, prior to Paul Whiteman's introduction of the tune, basically only classical music and some local folk material was deemed worthy of recording for posterity.

Hmm... where to begin. This is really, really wrong. What's your source other than Gilliam's film?

The usual consensus is that Arthur Collins's 1905 recording "The Preacher and the Bear" was the recording that changed the phonograph from a toy for the idle rich into a standard accessory for middle class homes. It's a pop song by any definition. Not classical or folk (although "coon song" would probably be the correct subgenre). And I imagine that there are scholars who would debate the centrality of this recording. (The Internet Archive has dozens of Arthur Collins recordings, all made well prior to 1919.)

It's interesting to see just how permeant memory has become in our lives. It's like everywhere I turn, I see something with a card slot or USB jack . I guess it makes sense though, considering how cheap memory has become as of late...

Gahhhh, who am I to complain. I can't get by a single day without my R4 / R4i!

Listen to Martini in the Morning

Jazz News

A tribute to the finest genre of popular music in history, pop's direct link to the classical tradition, and one of our nation's most important contributions to world culture, the Great American Songbook. Each day (more or less), I spotlight a different popular standard. And yes, I'm straight. So is your grandfather. He loves this music, too--just ask him!